Spent fireworks suspected as cause of Henderson fire that killed retiree

A retired civil servant and U.S. Marine veteran died trying to put out a fire in the garage of his Henderson home late July 4, family and friends said.

George Rauch's family said the fire is thought to have started after he put spent fireworks in a box and placed them in the garage, not wanting to leave a mess on the street.

The fire happened about 10:30 p.m. in the 1600 block of Lone Palm Court, near South Boulder Highway and Wagon Wheel Drive.

Rauch, 62, was awakened by his son, who told him the carpets in the home were wet. Rauch investigated and found the blaze in the garage.

He tried to put out the flames but was trapped in the garage and overcome by smoke, his wife, Emily Rauch, said.

She said her husband's actions to battle the blaze were typical of his personality. "He didn't think twice. He just does it."

She recalled that recently, without regard for his own safety, he quickly helped douse a fire at a neighbor's home before it spread.

But on Independence Day, the fire did not go out easily. When George Rauch did not emerge from the garage, his family ran for help.

Karl MacDiarmid said his neighbors asked for his help about 10:38 p.m.

He grabbed some tools and tried to break into the garage, while calling for his neighbor.

But there was no answer.

MacDiarmid kept trying, "but there was no way I could get in there."

By the time Henderson firefighters arrived, it was too late, MacDiarmid said.

A Henderson fire official confirmed the fire and fatality but knew no other details.

The garage was destroyed, and the home had heavy smoke and water damage, said Emily Rauch, who is staying at a local hotel.

She said her husband was a proud Marine. She believes he would have been honored to have died on July 4.

"He loved America so much," she said.

George Rauch worked as a mechanic for Oxnard, Calif., until retiring to Henderson about two years ago.

After retirement, he picked up coin collecting and enjoyed playing poker on the Internet and watching Bruce Lee movies.

His true passion was gardening, Emily Rauch said. He loved working with plants and flowers and was meticulous about trimming and shaping them, his wife said.

When he wasn't spending time on his hobbies, he was helping others, she said.

"He was a very kind and loving person. Always helpful," she said.

With his wife, he is survived by two sons, Harold and Charlie Rauch, and a daughter, Martha Lyke. George Rauch also had four brothers and two sisters.